Party-line cut-out.



w. B. FRANCIS. PARTY LINE GUT-OUT.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 14, 1913.

Patented M31. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. B. FRANCIS. I PARTY LINE GUT-OUT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1913.

1,1 33,549, Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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YME NORRIS PETERS C0" PHOTU-LITHO.. \vVIISHINUTUNv D. C.

UNITED STATES FATFJT @FFIQF.

WILLIAM B. FRANCIS, OF PRAGUE, OKLAHOMA.

PARTY-LINE CUT-OUT.

Application filed June 14, 1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM B. FnANoIs, citizen of the United States,residing at Prague, in the county of Lincoln and State of Oklahoma, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Party-Line Cut- Outs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches for,telephone sys tems and more particularly for use in teleahones on artlines m im roved switch in fact constituting a party line cut-out switchand the object. of my invention is to provide a switch which is operableby the receiver hook and which renders it impossible, when two personsare using a line, for any other person on the line to overhear theconversation.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the switch and wirethe instruments that when two parties on a line are using the line bothends of the line beyond their instruments are cut-oil", thus preventingany party on the line beyond either of them listening in on theirconversation, and further so arranged that any party having aninstrument between the parties using the line, who attempts to cut in,will immediately cut-out one or the other of the two parties conversingand will therefore be unable to overhear their conversation. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the switches are so arranged that anintermediate party cutting in in this manner will be unable'to call anyother than a second intermediate party. For these reasons, practicallyall intentional cutting in of third parties will be avoided. And a stillfurther object of my invention is to construct a receiver hook actuatedswitch capable of accomplishing the above objects and which will becomposed of a few working parts and therefore simple in its operation,cheap to manufacture and not liable to get out of order.

I Jith these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and thenspecifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form apart of this application.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved switch,showing the same in place, the telephone boX in which the switch ismounted being shown in secti on and the switch being shown in normalSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Serial No. 773,640.

or inactive position; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the switch inone of its two active positions; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of theswitch, showing it in the position shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is afragmentary perspective view, showing the manner of mounting thereceiver hook when used in connection with my improved switch; Fig. 5 isa sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4, further showing the manner ofmounting the hook; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slotted plate throughwhich the receiver hook extends and which controls the movement ofsaidhook and consequently the operation of the switch; Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view, showing a number of instruments provided with myimproved switch and included in a single party line.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In order to insure a clear understanding of my invention I haveillustrated the switch in place in a telephone boX, conventionally shownat 10 and includinga back wall 11 and end wall 1:2. A bracket 13,preferably formed of malleable iron, is secured by one end to the backwall by screws or other fastening devices 14, being cutaway and bent toprovide perforated lugs or ears for selfsupport and also for the supportof the switch and receiver hook as will be more fully explained. Thisbracket 13 is provided intermediate its length with a tongue 15 which ispreferably up-bent slightly and which is perforated as shown at 16 toreceive a rivet 17 or other pivotal fastening device, this rivet beingpassed upwardly through the intermediate portion of a strip of sheetmetal 18 and an extended end 19 of a U-shaped spring 20. The endportions of the strip 18 are bent inwardly across the side edge portionsof the extended end 19 of the spring and then upwardly in parallelspaced relation as shown at 21 after which they are bent outwardly andupwardly to provide spaced perforated ears 22. A metallic sleeve 23,preferably rectangular in section and wall 12 of the box and through theslot 27 of a face plate 28 secured to the outer face of said end wall.This slot, as shown in Fig. 6, is Tshaped including an upper horizontalportion 29 and a central vertical portion 30. The opening in the endwall 12 of the box, for the passage of the arm, corresponds in shape tothe slot of the plate and it will therefore be apparent that thereceiver hook may be moved upwardly vertically under the action of thespring 20 when the receiver is removed from its hook and may then beswung manually to either end of the horizontal portion 29 of the slot.

In order to lock the receiver arm in either the forward or rear end ofthe portion 29 of the slot when moved to either position, I provide aleaf spring 31, the intermediate portion ofwhich is secured to the uppercdgerof the horizontal portion of the slot by a screw or other fasteningdevice as shown at 32 and the free ends of which are boweddownwardly andthen upwardly to bear against the upper edge of the slot;

hen the receiver arm is moved in either direction it engages one of thedownwardly bowed portions of the spring and forces the same upwardduring its passage until it reaches the end of the slot when said bowedportion serves to lock the same against any return movement unless swungmanually with suliicient strength'to overcome the action of the spring.

The bracket carries upon either side of the receiver hook arm 25 a setof resilient contacts, the set at one side being indicated as a whole bythe numeral 33 and that at the opposite side by the numeral 34:. Eachset includes the same number of contacts and the contacts are similarlyarranged, that is, the. contacts of one set are symmetrically arrangedwith respect to the contacts of the other set. The contacts of the set33 include a lower resilient contact 35 and upper contact 36 bothsecured to the bracket by tastening screws 37, these contacts beinginsulated from each other and from the bracket, as shown;

Resilient contacts 38 and 39 are secured in parallel spaced relationadjacent the contacts 35 and'36 and in a plane somewhat above'th at ofthe contact 35, these contacts 38and 39 being disposed edgeways asshown, for swinging movement toward and away from: the back wall of thebox and being insulated from each other, fromthe contacts 35 and 36 andfrom the bracket 13. The contact 36 carries a downwardl directed pin l0and a rearwardly directed pin 41, while the contact 38 carries arearwardly directed pin 42.

a .The set of contacts 34 includes contacts 35and 36 corresponding tothe contacts 35 and 36, and contacts 38"and 39 correspondingto thecontacts 38 and 39, the

contact 36 being provided with pins 4&0 and 41 corresponding to the pinsi0 and 41 and the contact '38 with a pin 42" 'corresponding to the pin12.

The receiver hook arm 25 is providedintcrmediate its length withforwardly and rearwardly directed cross arms t3 which are either formedof insulation or suitali ly insulated from the receiver arm and whichseat in spring forks a l formed in the extended ends of the contacts 36and 36.

-B referring to Fig. 3 of the dra in-gs, it will be seen that because ofthis connection oetwen the receiver hook arm 25 and the contacts 36 36,the latter will be held with their pins 4.0 and 40 in engagement withthe contacts 35 and 35 respectively, when the receiver hook is held indepressed position by the weight of the receiver. It will further beapparent that when the receiver hook is moved to the upper end of thevertical portion 30 of the slot, the contacts 36 and 36 will moveupwardly to break the circuits between the contacts 35+-35 and 3636.lVh'en in this upper position, the contacts 36 and 36 lie in the samehorizontal plane with the contacts 33, 39, 38 and 39. "It will thereforebe apparent that if the receiver hook is 4-1 of the contact 36 willengage the contact 38 and force the same l'Qll'WtlCllF-Z until its pin42 engages thecontact 39. In like manner, if the receiver hook is swungforwardly, the contact 36 will be swung forwardly until its pin ll'engages the contact 38 swingingthe same farwardly to bring its pin 42into engagement with the contact 39.

Having thus described the mechanical structure of one of my improvedswitches i will now explain the manner of wiring the same when thev areemployed with the moved rearwardly, the pin usual telephones .in a partyline system.

These party line systems are usually of one of two types, one beingknown as the ground return system andthe other as the metallic returnsystem. It will be app arentthat the wiring will differ slightlyaccording to which system is employed but as both are well known I haveillustrated the wiring system alone.

Although I have illustrated but three in-V struments A, B and C in theline, it will of course be understood that any number of instrumentsdesired may be employed. "In

diagrammatically for the ground return v the ground return system theline is made up of aplurality of sections each including a conductorwire. which, as shown, electrically connects the contact 36 of oneinstrument with the contact 36 of the adj'a- 1 cent instrument. A wire4:6 in the system connects the contacts 35" and 35, while a wire l?connects the contacts'38 and 38. i wire 4 8 connects the contacts 39 and39.

A magneto bell a9 is located at each instrument and connected by oneterminal to the ground as shown at 50 and at its other terminal by aconductor wire 51 with the contact of its instrument. A conductor wire52 leads from the contact 89 to the transmitter 53 and a wire 54 leadsfrom the transmitter to a battery 55. A wire 56 leads from this batteryto the primary winding 57 of an induction coil 58 and a wire 59 leadsfrom said winding to the contact 38. A wire 60 also leads from thecontact 38 to the secondary winding 61 of the induction coil 58 and awire 62 leads from said sec ondary coil to the receiver 63 from which awire 6% leads to the ground.

In operation, assuming that the receiver hooks of all instruments are inplace and the contacts 36 and 36 of all instruments therefore inengagement with the contacts 85 and 35 of their respective instruments,it will be apparent that any ringing current passing over the line willpass from one wire to the contact 36 of one instrument. through saidcontact to the contact 35 of the same instrument, through the wire 46 tothe contact 35, through said contact to the contact 36, through the neXtsection or wire 45 to the next instrument in the line and so onthroughout the entire line. At each in strument the current will alsopass through the wire 51 to the magneto hell %9 and so to the groundringing the bell. As soon as the subscriber called raises his receiverfrom its hook, the hook is raised by the spring 20 and the circuitbroken between the contacts 3535 and 36-36 of his instrument which opensthe main line at his instrument. If

' the subscriber then moves the receiver hook rearwardly he will bringthe contacts 36, 88 and 39 into engagement and his instrument will thenbe in circuit with all instruments along the line in one direction. If,on the other hand, he swings his receiver hook forwardly, the contacts36, 8S and 39 will be in engagement and his instrument will be connectedwith the line in the other direction. When called therefore he may swingthe receiver hook first in one direction and then in the other todetermine from which direction he is being called. In the'meantime, theparty calling has also raised his receiver hook and swung it in theproper direction. lVhen the parties have thus connected theirinstruments it will be apparent that all instruments upon either side ofthe two parties are cut out and that if any in strument between theparties cuts in one of the parties will be out out. Furthermore, anyinstrument cutting in between the parties. when the instruments areconnected, can get connection only with any intermediate instrument. 7

Ihe remainder of the wiring and its operation in the ordinary employmentof a party line system is conventional and will specific detailstherefore be readily understood and no description of the same istherefore neces sary. It will of course be understood that I do not wishin any way to limit myself to the of construction illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification as various minor changes,ithin the scope of the appended claims, may be made at any time withoutin the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my invention.

Haring thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a party line cut-out, a group of contacts adapted for electricalconnection to a telephone instrument and a line, a second similar groupof contacts adapted for electrical connection to the same instrument andline, and a telephone hook pivoted for vertical movement and subsequenthorizontal movement controlling the closing of cir cuits through saidcontacts.

2. In a party line cut-out, a group of contacts adapted for electricalconnection to a telephone instrument and a line, a second similar groupof contacts adapted for electrical connection to the same instrument andline, and a' telephone hook pivoted for vertical movement and subsequenthorizontal movement controlling the closing of circuits through saidcontacts, the hook in lowered position closing a circuit through certaincontacts of each group and in raised position being movable in onedirection to close circuits through the contacts of one group and in theopposite direction to close circuits through the contacts of the othergroup.

8. In a party line cut-out, a group of contacts adapted for electricalconnection to a telephone instrument and a line, a second similar groupof contacts adapted for electrical connection to the same instrument andline, and a telephone hook pivoted for vertical movement and subsequenthorizontal movement controlling the closing of circuits through saidcontacts, the hook in lowered position closing a circuit through certaincontacts of each group and in raised position being movable in onedirection to close circuits through the contacts of one group and in theopposite direction to close circuits through the contacts of the othergroup, said hook when in raised position opening the circuit which itcloses when lowered.

4. In a party line cut-out, a group of contacts adapted for electrical.connection to a telephone instrument and line, a second similar group ofcontacts adapted for elec trical connection to the same instrument andline, and a telephone hook pivoted for Jen tical movement and subsequenthorizontal movement controlling the closing of circuits through saidcontacts, the hook in lowered position closing a circuit through certaincontacts of each group and in raisedposition being movable in onedirection to close circuits through the contacts of one group and in theopposite direction to close cir- 7 ported at each side of the hook,electrical connection between each contact of one group and thecorrespond ng contact of the other group, a d' *ided main line, andmeans connected to the ends of the main line and operable by thereceiver hook for establishing connection between one set of saidcontacts and one end of the line or between the other set of saidcontacts and the other end of the line. a

6. In a party line cut-out, a receiver hook mounted for vertical andhorizontal movement, a'set of spaced contacts supported at each side ofthe hook electrical connection between each contact of one group and thecorresponding contact of the other group, a divided main line, and meansconnected to the ends of the main line and operable by the receiver hookfor establishing connection between one set of said contacts and one endof the line or between the other set of said contacts and the other endof the line, said means being operable by'lirst raising the hook andthen swinging the same horizontally in one direction or the other;

7. In a party line cut-out, a pivoted receiver hook mounted for swingingmovement in a vertical plane and also in a horizontal plane, a pluralityof resilient con.- tacts positioned at one side of the hook, a pluralityof resilient contacts positioned at the other side of the hook,electrical connection between each contact of the first and thecorresponding contact of the second, the contacts of both being adaptedfor connection with a line and with. a telephone instrument, and meansoperable by swinging the receiver hook in one direction or the other forclosing the circuits through one group of contacts or the other.

8. In party line cut-outs, a divided main line a group of contactsadapted for electrical connection between the telephone instrument andone side of the main line, a similar group of contacts adapted forelectrical connection between the same instrument and the other side ofthe main line,

electrical connection between each contact" of one group and a contactof the other group, a receiver hook, and means operable by movement ofthe receiver hook for closing the circuit through either set of.contacts. K V

- 9. In party line cut-outs, the combination with a divided line, atelephone instrument and a vertically movable receiver book, of meansoperated by the book when in lowered position for connecting the linesections, and means operable by movement of the hook after raising thesame for connecting the instrument to either side of the line.

10. In party line cut-outs, a telephone box provided with a T-shapedslot, a receiver hook extending through the slot and mounted forswinging movement in both a vertical and a horizontal plane, a dividedmain line,.

means operable by the lowering of the hook for connecting the sides ofthe line, means operable by the raising of the hook for opening theline, and means operable by the subsequent horizontal movement of thehook for connecting its telephone with either side of the line. a r

11. In party line cut-outs, a telephone box provided with a T-shapedslot, a receiver hook extending through the slot and mounted forswinging movement in both a vertical and a horizontal plane, a dividedmain line, means operable by the lowering of the hook for connecting thesides of the line, means operable by the raising of the hook for openingthe line and means operable by the subsequent horizontal movement of thehook for connecting its telephone with either side of the line, saidmeans being operable by the swinging of the receiver hook forwardly orrearwardly.

12. In party line cut-outs, a telephone box provided with a T-shapedslot, a receiver hook extending through the slot and mount ed forswinging movement in both'a vertical and a horizontal plane, a dividedmain line, means operable by the'lowering of the hook for connecting thesides of the line, means operable by the raising of the hook for openingthe line, means operable by the subsequent horizontal movement of thehook forconnecting its telephone witheither side of the line, said meansbeing operable by the swinging of the receiver hook forwardly orrearwardly, and means for locking the swinging of the receiver hookforwardly or rearwardly. and means for locking the hook in either ofsaid positions, said means comprising a leaf spring secured centrally tothe central portion of the horizontal part of the T-shaped slot andhaving bowed end portions projecting in the path of the receiver hook.

14. in a party line cut-out, the combination with a divided main lineand a telephone instrument including a receiver hook, bell, transmitterand receiver, of contact members electrically connected one to each sideof the line and operatively connected to the receiver hook for movementtherewith, means co-acting with said members to close a circuit throughthe line and bell upon depression of the receiver hook, and meanscoacting with said contact members to operatively connect the receiverand transmitter to either side of the line by movement of the receiverhook in one direction or the other when raised.

15. In a party line cut-out, the combination with a divided main lineand a telephone instrument including a receiver hook, bell, transmitterand receiver, of contact members electrically connected one to each sideof the line and operatively connected to the receiver hook for movementtherewith, means co-acting with said members to close a circuit throughthe line and bell upon depression of the receiver hook, and meansco-acting with said contact members to operatively connect the receiverand transmitter to either side of the line by movement of the receiverhook in one direction or the other when raised, said means including aplurality of spaced contacts electrically connected with the receiverand transmitter and in position for engagement by one of the contactmembers operatively connected to the receiver hook when the receiverhook is swung in one direction, and a second set of similar contactmembers similarly con- I nected and in position to beengaged by theother contact member operatively connected to the receiver hook when thereceiver hook is swung in the opposite direction.

16. In a party line cutout, the combination with a divided main line anda telephone instrument including a receiver and transmitter, of areceiver hook mounted for movement in both a horizontal and a verticalplane, means operated by the movement of the receiver hook in onedirection for establishing connection through the divided line, meansoperable by the receiver hook in another direction for breaking saidconnection, means operable by the receiver hook in another direction forestablishing connection between one side of the line and the receiverand transmitter, and means operable by the movement of the receiver hookin still another direction for establishing connection between the otherside of the line and the receiver and transmitter.

17. In a party line cutout, the combination with a divided main line anda tele phone instrument including a receiver and transmitter, of areceiver hook mounted for movement in both a horizontal and a ver ticalplane, means operable by the movement of the receiver hook in onedirection for establishing connection through the divided line, meansoperable by the receiver hook in another direction for breaking saidconnection, means operable by the receiver hook in another direction forestablishing connection between one side of the line and the receiverand transmitter, means operable by the movement of the receiver hook instill another direction for establishing connection between the otherside of the line and the receiver and transmitter, and means forautomatically holding the receiver hook when moved in either of the twolast named directions.

18. A party line cut-out including a box provided with a T-shaped slot,a receiver hook pivoted for movement in a vertical or a horizontal planeextending through said slot and movable to all parts thereof, a bracketsupporting the inner end of said hook, means for normally holding thehook in elevated position, means for automatically securing the hookwhen swung horizontally, resilient contacts carried by the bracket andoperatively connected to the hook one upon either side thereof, adivided line, one side being connected to one contact and one side tothe other, a pair of contacts mounted one adjacent each of the firstcontacts and electrically connected to each other and to a bell, thefirst contacts being adapted to engage the second contacts upondepression of the receiver hook, and a pair of spaced contacts insulatedfrom each other and from the other contacts located at one side of eachof the first contacts, the contacts of each pair being adapted to beforced into engagement with each other and with the adjacent of thefirst mentioned contacts upon swinging of the receiver hook toward saidpair, electrical connection between each contact 01": one pair and thecorresponding contact of the other, and electrical connection betweenone contact of one pair and a receiver and between the other contact ofsaid pair and a trans mitter.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. FRANCIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

